Charles Lindbergh - More on the First Aviator to Cross the Atlantic in Flight

Charles was born in Detroit, Michigan to Swedish immigrants. Growing up on a farm in Little Falls, Minnesota his father became an attorney and U.S. congressman who was opposed to the U.S. joining the First World War Lindbergh's mother was a chemistry teacher. Similarly to Bill Gates, whose father was also a lawyer and mother a teacher, Lindbergh began his innovative career and interests at a young age.

At the age of 20, Lindbergh quit a mechanical engineering program at the University of Wisconsin, and joined a pilot and mechanist training with Nebraska Aircraft. Lindberg eventually bought his own airplane, a Curtis JN-4 "Jenny", and soon became a stunt pilot. IN 1924, Lindbergh began training as a U.S. military aviator with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Lindbergh then became a civilian airmail pilot in the 1920's in St. Louis.

In 1925, Lindbergh graduated from the Army's flight-training school at Brooks and Kelly fields, near San Antonio. Lindbergh graduated at the top of his class.

Lindberg then worked as a mail pilot between St. Louis and Chicago, earning the reputation as a cautious and capable pilot.
Lindbergh's work as a mail pilot allowed him to earn $25,000 for the first flight between New York and Paris.

Lindbergh's most notable accomplishment occurred early in the morning of May 20, 1927. It was then that Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field near New York City. Lindbergh flew northeast along the coast, was later sighted above Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. From Newfoundland, Lindbergh headed over the Atlantic using only a compass, airspeed indicator, and luck to make his way to Ireland. The flight itself had aroused interest from the American public more so than many events in American history. Patrons waited nervously near their radios to hear the latest on Lindbergh's flight. Lindbergh was later seen soaring over the Irish coast and the crowds cheered as they prepared for him to land in Paris. More than 100,000 people greeted Lindbergh at the Le Bourget Field in France as he landed. Within 34 hours Lindbergh had done it, earning the recognition for being the first to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Upon arriving in the U.S., Lindbergh was greeted by a convoy of warships and aircrafts and was escorted to Potomoc Washington. President Coolidge welcomed Lindbergh and bestowed upon him the Distinguished Flying Cross award. Four million people lined the parade route and Lindbergh was also pinned by Mayor Jimmy Walker with New York's Medal of Valor.
Charles Lindbergh is quoted as saying, "I was astonished at the effect my successful landing in France had on the nations of the world. To me, it was like a match lighting a bonfire."

Lindbergh's feat gained immediate and international fame. He was dubbed by the press as "Lucky Lindy" and the "Lone Eagle."

Lindbergh later married Anne Morrow, the daughter of an American Ambassador in Mexico. The two had many flying expeditions together throughout the world, charting new routes for various airlines.

Another one of Lindbergh's accomplishments that often goes unmentioned is his invention of an artificial heart. Lindbergh developed the heart between 1931 and 35 for Alexis Carrel. The device could pump the substances necessary for life throughout the tissues of an organ.

In March of 1932, Lindbergh's 20 month son was kidnapped. Ten weeks later his body was found. Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested, charged and convicted. He was later executed.

Due to the press's high involvement and watching of the Lindbergh family, they moved to Europe for privacy. The Lindbergh law was later established in order to make kidnapping a federal offense.

Lindbergh also campaigned against voluntary American involvement in World War II prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan. He was often criticized for his noninvolvement beliefs. Lindbergh spoke out for the conversation of natural resources. His conservation movement highlighted the protection of humpback and blue whales which were both in danger of extinction.
Lindberg died of cancer in August of 1974.